This exhibition draws together for the first time selected artworks made by Sabi Westoby during her career.
Sabi’s art practice is focussed on making series of works inspired by a diverse range of subjects from both the natural and man made worlds; sources of inspiration have included the Great War, a construction site and hedgerows.
When considering a new set of work, the first step is to open a dedicated sketchbook. An initial idea, sown in fresh ground, is developed through research, experimentation and worked samples. If it takes root, it may grow to fruition as a collection of artworks fully formed textile wall hangings connected by the common thread of each subject.
Artworks in this exhibition, selected from several series, show the range of materials and techniques used by Sabi. Watercolours, acrylics and oil paint sticks were painted, printed and stencilled onto fabric. Collage and raw edge appliqué created the concrete brutalist forms in that series. The use of text extracts from The Georgics added an extra layer of colour and texture. Hand or machine stitching completed each piece, giving body and definition.
Concrete Brutalism - inspired by the architecture of London’s Southbank Centre, the colours, textures and stark forms of concrete brutalism were interpreted in fabric, each piece a dystopian scene.
Poppies - drawing on and extending her re search for the Great War quilts, Sabi depicted the life cycle of the poppy, from bud to bloom to seed head, in paint, appliqué and stitch.
Georgics - the themes of agriculture and beekeeping in John Dryden’s 17th century translation of the Roman poet Virgil’s Georgics, were explored in paint, stencils and text; hand or machine stitch
completed the work.
Uprooted - this was a response to the refugee crisis as shown in The Guardian’s the List of reported refugee deaths over a 25 year period. Commercially printed pages and hand stencilled figures were outlined with hand stitch.
The artist - Living and working in Willesden, Sabi was born in India, migrating to England as a young teenager with her family. Early retirement from a busy legal career enabled her to focus on a lifelong interest in the visual arts. Largely self-taught, attending courses and workshops run by artists eminent in their fields of textile and mixed media work helped develop her artistic voice.
Sabi has had five solo exhibitions in England and exhibited widely in numerous group shows, both nationally and internationally; her work has also featured in publications. She is a member of several exhibiting groups:
- Studio Art Quilt Associates
- Contemporary Textiles London
- Contemporary Quilt Group of the Quilters’ Guild
- London Quilters
- Quilters’ Guild.